Spring-tongue snap hook



Patented July 15, 1924.

UNITED STATES" i 1,501,738 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. BAXTER, OF TROY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO COVERT MANUFACTURING CO.,` OF TRO'Y, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SPRING-TONGUE SNAP HOOK.

Application led December` 8, 1920. Serial No. 429,126.

To @ZZ 'who/m, t may conce/m Be it known that I, JOHN: B. BAXTER, citizen of the United States, residing at Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Spring-Tongue Snap Hook, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in spring tongue snap hooks and more particularly to a hook of this characterembodying a substantially U shaped spring tongue adapted to be connected to theI body.

The principal object of the invention resides in a novel mannerof casting or forming the body so that the tongue may be easily and securely connected thereto.

Another object consists in forming the body, and connecting the spring tongue thereto7 in such a manner that the hook may engage a ring or other object at opposite ends.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds my invention consists in the no-vel details of construction and arrangement of parts which will be clearly understood from the following specification and drawings, and while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of the invention it will be understood that. such changes may be made as will fall within the scope of thev appended claims.

In the drawings .Y

Figure l is a bottom plan ofthe body prior to inserting and securing the spring tongue,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the body shown in Figure l,

Figure 8 is a bottom plan with the spring tongue in position,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the body and spring tongue,

Figure 5 is a bottom plan showing a slightly modified form of body,

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through that form of body illustrated in F igure 5 with the spring tongue attached,

Figure 7 is a fragr'nental longitudinal section of a still further modified form of body with the spring tongue attached; and

Figure 8 is a tranverse vertical section on the line 7 7 of Figure 7 looking in the direction of the arrows,

In carrying out my invention the body of the hook is cast with shank l having a bill 2 formed on one end and a frame structure on. the opposite end for attaching the spring tongue. The hook is cast with the bill oftset laterally, with respect to the shank, to facilitate its removal from the mould. In casting if desired a core may be used although this is not necessary. The frame structure comprises the two sides or cheeks 3, the outer ends o-f which are bent at right angles as shown at 4 and connected. by a. cross bar The cross bar has a flange 6 on each edge for a. purpose to be later described.V A lug 7 is yformed on the inner face of each side or cheek 3, preferably at the point where the ends are bent at right angles, and a lip or projection 8 extends from the shank l into the frame structure. The lipy or projection 8 is of less thickness than the shank so as to form a shoulder 9 as more clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings. Y, In casting the sides or cheeks 3 are spread a substantial distance apart, as shown in Figure l of the drawings Vand in order to secure the spring tongue l0 in position the sides are pressed inwardlyas more clearly shown in Figures v3 and e. The spring tongue is of a substantially U shaped formation with the relatively short arm ll and the long arm l2. The short arm ll is used for connecting the spring to the body whereas the long arm l2 will co-operate with and engage the bill 2 to form the snap. As previously stated when casting the sides 3 will be spread apart and to secure the spring l() in the body the sainevwillV be placed inposition with the end of the arm ll engaging the top of the lip or projection 8 and the shoulder 9. The sides are then pressed inwardly until they engage the sides of the spring tongue with the lugs 7 engaging the upper face of the varm ll of the spring as shown in Figure 4l. rIhe arm l2 will engage the under side of the cross bar 5 and be held between the side flanges 6 with its end engaging beneath the bill 2. When thus assembled the ends of the sides 3 will be bent as shown at 13 so as to engage the outer' face of the spring tongue, adjacent the curved portion thereof, to prevent the said spring tongue from being slid from the end of the frame structure. It will be understood that after the hooi; is cast the bill will be'bent sfo to extend parallel` 7ith the shank.

In Figures and 6 of the drawings I have illustrated a slightly modified form of the invention. In this form the shank is shown at 14, the bill at 15, and the sides of the frame structure at 16. As in the preferred form the ends of the sides 16 are bent at right angles as shown at 17 and are conn ected by a cross bar 18 having the side flanges 19. Longitudinal spaced lugs 20 and* 21 are formed on the inner face of' each of thesides 16, the lugs 2O being adjacent the pointY where the ends of the sides are bent at right angles and the lugs 21 being adjacent the end of the lip or projection 22 extending from the shank into the frame structure. The lugs 21 will be slightly spaced from the upper face of the lip or projection 22 as inore clearly shown in .F igure 6 of the drawings, said space being equal to the thickness of the short arm 23 of the substantially U shaped spring tongue 24'. The long arm 25 of the spring tongue engages the under side of the cross bar 18, between the. side flanges 19, and its end engages beneath the bill 15. Then the sides 16 'are pressedA inwardly to hold the spring tongue the lugs 20 and 21 will engage the top surface of the arm 2L and the ends of the sides 16 willy be bent as shown at 26 to engage the curved portion of the spring tongue to prevent the same from being slid from the` end ofthe frame. es shown in Figure l6th'elip or projection 22 is of less thickness than the shank so as to form a shoulder 2T to be engaged by the end of the arin 23 of the spring tongue. As in the preferrediform of the invention the sides 16 will be cast spread apart and will be pressed inwardly to secure the spring' tongue in the body. The only difference in the construction shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 and that shown in TEigures and 6 is that in the latter figures two lugs are formed on the inner face of' each side instead of one, the additional. lugs being used, when desired or necessary, to more securely connect the spring` tongue to the body. A still further modified formof the invention is shown in Figures 7 and S. In this forni the sides of the frame structure are indicated at 28, the ends of the sides are bcnt atright angles as shown at 29, and are con-- Utl nectedby the cross bar having the-side fianges 31. Instead of having lugs formed on'the inner faces of the sides the sides are cut. away to form the ridges or flanges 32 which extend longitudinally of the sides. lnthis form a portion of the substantially U'shaped spring tongue is shown at 33 and is secured in position by pressing the sides 28 inwardly so that the ridges or flanges 32 engage the upper face of the arm 34: of the spring tongue. As in the other forms the moines ends of the sideswill be bent as shown at 35 to engage the outer face ofthe curved portion oi? the spring tongue to prevent it from being slid from the end of the body.

Having fully described the detailed construction. of my hook it is thought that the advantages thereof will be clearly understood and it will be seen that when the parts are assembled and in position ready for use, that each end of the hook is curved so that a ring or other object may be received in each end. It is the principal object of my present invention to so cast the body that the spring may be easily inserted to position and secured. This is accomplished by casting the body with the sides of the frame structure spread apart and inl this formation the spring may be easily placed in position and then secured by pressing the sides inwardly tol engage the edges of the spring with the lip or projection, formed on the shank, engaging one face of one of the spring arms and the lugs or ridges engaging the opposite face. The spring is held against displacement from the end of the body by pressing the ends of the side over the outer face of the curved portion of the spring tongue.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A snap hook of the character described comprising a shank having a bill on one end and a frame structure on the opposite end, said frame structure comprising sides which are normally spaced apart to forni an open top and end, a projection extending from one side, a tongue formed on the shank and extending into the frame structure said tongue beino disconnectedv from the sides of the traine, anda subst-antially U-shaped spring tongue carried by the frame, one arm of the spring tongue adapted to engage the bill in the other arm adapted to engage the tongue which extends into the frame, the sides of the frame adapted to be moved inwardly to engage the edges or" the arm of the spring tongue with the projection engaging the face of the arm opposite to that engaged by the tongue, and portons of the end of the frame being offset to overlie the outer face of the closed end of the spring tongue.

2. A snap hook of the character described comprising a shank having a bill on one end and a frame structure on the opposite end, said frame structure comprising sides wnich are normally spaced apart to forni an open top and end, an inwardly extending projection formed on each side of the frame, a tongue formed on the shank and extending into the frame structure, said tongue being disconnected from the sides ofthe frame, and a substantially U-shaped spring tongue cai'- ried by the frame, one arni of the spring llO tongue adapted to engage the bill and the other arm adapted to engage the tongue which extends into the frame, the sides of the frame adapted to be moved inwardly to engage the edges of the arm of the spring tongue with the projections on the sides of the `frame engaging the face of the arm opposite to that engaged `by the tongue, and portions of the end of the frame being offset to overlie the outer tace ot' the closed end ot the spring tongue.

3. A snap hook of the character described comprising a shank having a bill on one end and a frame structure on the opposite end, said frame structure comprising sides which are normally spaced apart to form an open top and end and bent to form a hook portion otl substantially the shape ot` the bill, a bar connecting the ends of the curved portion, a projection extending from one side, a tongue formed on the shank and extending into the frame structure, said tongue being' disconnected from t-he sides of the iframe, and a substantially U-shaped spring tongue carried by the trame, one end of the spring tongue engaging the bill and the bar connecting the ends of the curved portion of the frame, and the other arm engaging the tongue which extends into the frame, the sides adapted to be moved inwardly to engage the edges of the arm of the spring tongue with the projection engaging the face of the arin opposite to that engaged by the tongue, and portions of the end of the trame being oset to overlie the outer tace of the closed end of the spring tongue.

4. A snap hook of the character described comprising a shank having a bill on one end and a frame structure on the opposite end, said frame structure comprising sides which are normally spaced apart'to form an open top and end and bent to form a hook portion of substantially the shape ot' the bill, a bar connecting the ends of the curved portion, an inwardly extending projection formed on each side of the frame, a tongue formed on the shank and extending into the frame structure, said tongue being disconnected from the sides ot the frame, and a substantially U-shaped spring tongue carried by the frame, one end of the spring tongue eng'aging the bill and the bar connecting the ends of the curved portion of the frame, and the other arm engaging the tongue which eX- tends into the frame, the sides adapted to be moved inwardly to engage the edges of the arm of the spring tongue with the projections engaging the iaceroie the arm opposite to that engaged by the tongue, and portions of the end ot the trame being oiset to oven lie the outer face of the closed end of the spring tongue.

5. A snap hook of the character described comprising a shank having a bill on one end and a frame structure on the opposite end, said frame structure comprising sides which are normally spaced apart to form an open top and end, a tongue formed on the shank and extending into the frame structure, said tongue being disconnected from the sides ot the frame and or less width than the shank on which it is formed, and a subf stantially U-shaped spring tongue carried by the frame, one arm of the spring tongue being adapted to engage the bill and the other arm adapted to engage the tongue which extends into the trame, the width of the arm of the spring being greater than the tongue which it engages, the sides ot the frame being adapted to be moved inwardly to engage the edges ot the arm of the spring tongue.

6. A snap hook of the character described comprising a shank having a bill on one end and a frame structure on the opposite end, said frame structure comprising sides which are normally spaced apart to form an open top and end, a projection extending from one side of the frame, a tongue formed on the shank and extending into the frame structure, said tongue being disconnected from the sides of the frame and of less width than the shank on whichit is formed, and a substantially U-shaped spring tongue carried by the frame, one arni of the spring tongue being adapted to engage the bill and the other arm adapted to engage the tongue which extends into the trame, the width of the arm of the spring being greater than the tongue which it engages, the sides of the traine being adapted to be moved inwardly to engage the edges of the arm of the spring tongue with the projection engaging the face ot' the arm opposite to that engaged by the tongue, and portions of the end of the trame being oifset to overlie the outer face of the closed end of the spring tongue.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aihX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. BAXTER. lVitnesses GEORGE H. LEE, WALTER F. OBRLEN. 

